page_title: Pernambuco
section_title: Tourism and recreation
hierarchical_section_title: Pernambuco / Tourism and recreation
caption_attribution_description: Português: Catedral – Igreja Sagrado Coração de Jesus - Petrolina, Pernambuco, Brasil
context_page_description: Pernambuco is a state of Brazil, located in the Northeast region of the country. The state of Pernambuco also includes the archipelago Fernando de Noronha. With an estimated population of 9.2 million people in 2013, it is the seventh-most populous state of Brazil, and is the sixth-most densely populated and the 19th-most extensive among the states and territories of the country. Its capital and largest city, Recife, is one of the most important economic and urban hubs in the country. As of estimates in 2013, Recife's metropolitan area was at that time the fifth-most populous in the country, and the largest urban agglomeration in northeastern Brazil. The state is home to 4.6% of the Brazilian population and produces 2.8% of the Brazilian GDP.
  In 1982, the city of Olinda was declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO. Olinda and the state capital, Recife, have one of the most traditional Brazilian Carnivals. Both have Portuguese architecture, with centuries-old casarões and churches, kilometers of beaches and much culture. The proximity of the equator guarantees sunshine throughout the year, with average temperatures of 26 °C.
context_section_description: The Pernambuco coastline is 187 km long. There are about 187 kilometers (116 mi) of beaches, including some of the most beautiful in the region, such as Porto de Galinhas, Carneiros and Calhetas.
  Fernando de Noronha, an isolated group of 21 volcanic islands approximately 540 km from Recife. The main islands are the visible parts of a range of submerged mountains, islets and rocks. The Archipelago of Fernando de Noronha hosts ecological sites ideal for exuberant marine animal life, due to its geographic location far from the continent and well within the path of the Southern Equatorial Currents, as well as the nature of its climate.
  Porto de Galinhas. It features warm clear water pools scattered around its coral reefs, estuaries, mangroves, coconut trees and a number of other samples of abundant nature richness make Porto de Galinhas a place not to be missed or forgotten.
  Boa Viagem. Located in the privileged southern Recife metropolitan area, Boa Viagem is the most important and frequented beach in town. It is protected by a long reef wall and has an extensive coastline.
  Itamaracá island. Separated from the mainland by the Canal Santa Cruz, it has several highly frequented beaches. Among them are Forte Orange, Praia do Sossego and Pontal da Ilha. The island houses the Marine Manatee Preservation Center.
  Maracaípe, a beach with big waves which hosts a phase of the Brazilian Surf Tournament. Highly frequented by surfers and neighbor to Porto de Galinhas, Maracaípe.
  Tamandaré. Small waves and fine sand can be found there.
  Calhetas, a small bay of difficult access. Searched for by many for diving.
  Coroa do Avião, a small island in the middle of the Jaguaribe River delta, which can be reached only by boat or raft, from Recife or Itamaracá.
caption: Petrolina Cathedral
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